We’ve made it to the Top 20!

Just as the world was starting to open up, and Spring was turning to Summer, a welcome surprise landed in my ears: brand new music from Norewegian band Kings of Convenience. It had been over 20 years since the band released their lovely debut album, Quiet is the New Loud. They‘d followed that up with a decent sophomore effort, 2004’s Riot on an Empty Street, and I don’t recall ever listening to their third album, Declaration of Dependence, which came out in 2009. I’d assumed they’d split long ago.

But here we were, hopeful and excited about the Covid vaccinations rolling out for everyone 12 and older, summer vacations, and even a couple weeks where we actually went shopping without a mask on our faces. Peace or Love fell nicely into place amidst it all. Then, as the Delta variant and eventually the Omicron variant drove us back into hiding and despair, the tone of Peace or Love shifted with the times. No longer was it the soundtrack for drinking beers next to a pool, it became the soundtrack that helped us remember drinking beers next to a pool.

Kings of Convenience are a duo from Norway. Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe met in gradeschool, and became friends because they both have “ø” in their names – color me jealøus. (Just kidding – I have no idea why they became friends in grade school.) Their music is completely unassuming – quiet, folk-driven harmonies with tales of love and laughter. It is sure not to piss a single person off.

If you’re unfamiliar with Kings of Convenience, this album is a fine place to start. Put it on, don’t turn it up loud, lie down, and drift off into bliss. Be sure to leave it on repeat so you can wake occasionally and then pleasantly fall back to sleep.

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21. These 13 by Jimbo Mathus & Andrew Bird
22. Mr. Corman: Season 1 by Nathan Johnson
23. Home Video by Lucy Dacus
24. I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico by Various Artists
25. Siamese Dream by Fruit Bats
26. NINE by Sault
27. Observatory by Aeon Station
28. The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania by Damien Jurado
29. A Beginner’s Mind by Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine
30. Where the End Begins by Knathan Ryan
31. Private Space by Durand Jones & The Indications

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Full Album
All albums in their entirety.

Radio Station
A single song selection pulled from each album.

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